First Six Players Of 4 Nations Face-Off Rosters Announced

Sweden, Finland, Canada, and the United States have each named the first six players of their rosters for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off (Twitter link). The event will take place from February 12th, 2025, until February 20th, 2025. It will be hosted at the Bell Centre in Montreal as well as the TD Garden in Boston. Each roster will consist of 20 skaters and three goaltenders meaning each team will name 17 additional players later this year.

The lineups are as follows:

Sweden:

• D Victor Hedman (Lightning)
• D Erik Karlsson (Penguins)
• D Gustav Forsling (Panthers)
• F Filip Forsberg (Predators)
• F William Nylander (Maple Leafs)
• F Mika Zibanejad (Rangers)

Finland

• G Juuse Saros (Predators)
• D Miro Heiskanen (Stars)
• D Esa Lindell (Stars)
• F Sebastian Aho (Hurricanes)
• F Aleksander Barkov (Panthers)
• F Mikko Rantanen (Avalanche)

Canada

• D Cale Makar (Avalanche)
• F Sidney Crosby (Penguins)
• F Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche)
• F Brad Marchand (Bruins)
• F Connor McDavid (Oilers)
• F Brayden Point (Lightning)

United States

• D Adam Fox (Rangers)
• D Quinn Hughes (Canucks)
• D Charlie McAvoy (Bruins)
• F Jack Eichel (Golden Knights)
• F Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs)
• F Matthew Tkachuk (Panthers)

It’s hard to decide which of these rosters looks the most imposing with an initial glimpse. Canada leads the bunch with arguably the three best forwards in the NHL – in McDavid, MacKinnon, and Crosby. That trio will be incredibly tough to overcome, especially as MacKinnon has expressed interest in playing on Crosby’s wing. Assuming that would bump McDavid to his own line, Canada would have superstar power throughout their top-six.

But while Canada has loaded up on offense, America has loaded up on defense – bringing two Norris Trophy winners and one long-time favorite for the award. That should give them plenty of defense to corral Canada’s stars – at least enough to allow Matthews and Tkachuk a chance to strike. This tournament will notably mark  the first time Matthews has faced off against McDavid on the international stage, after avoiding each other during their World Juniors runs and playing together on ’Team North America’ at the 2017 World Cup.

Not to be left behind, Sweden is bringing their own pair of Norris Trophy winners in Hedman and Karlsson, flanked by a recent Norris-favorite – and this year’s fourth-place finisher – in Gustav Forsling. The trio offers the full suite of defensive skills, which should give good rise to the dynamic playmakers that will lead their offense.

But while Sweden and America take on the defense-first approach, Finland has joined Canada in loading up on offense – bringing the reigning Selke Trophy winner, Barkov, together with top-line scorers in Aho and Rantanen. The trio could make up one line, or support the majority of a depth chart, giving the Finns a bit more security as they look to enter the tournament with plenty of forward and goaltending talent – but a defense corps that could struggle to keep up with the other three attendees.